The "focus group discussion," a qualitative technique often used in market research, has been a useful tool in corporate exploration of employee child care needs and preferences and has led to the development of management policy regarding child care. The child care focus group has helped the employer learn more about employees' child care concerns and the extent and urgency of these concerns. In addition, these groups have assisted management in addressing parents' needs. The group process, which involves 8 to 10 employees in a 2-hour discussion of their experiences as consumers of child care, has been divided into three distinct phases: the preparation, the group discussion, and the subsequent report. The company and a facilitator usually decide upon child care topics to be discussed in the session. Employee satisfaction and dissatisfaction and available and affordable care are considered. In addition, focus groups have used a questionnaire or survey to provide quantitative research for more effective assessment. Employers have received valuable guidance from employees' experiences and have thus been assisted in shaping more effective corporate policy. (BJD)

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